Emergency service

Telephone numbers for medical emergencies

Acute emergencies and accidents
Tel 144 (ambulance)
Suspected poisoning
Tel 145 (tox center)
Switchboard for emergency referrals
Tel +41 44 255 11 11
Stroke – emergency referrals
Tel +41 44 255 50 05
Neurological emergency referrals
Tel +41 44 255 55 21

Emergency Department

The Emergency Department at the University Hospital Zurich is open 24/7. We provide a full range of emergency medical services for over 40,000 patients each year. Together with other departments, centers and institutes at the UHZ, we guarantee effective further treatment at all times.

Emergency Department, University Hospital Zurich
Schmelzbergstrasse 8, 8091 Zürich (Google Maps)

Procedures

Triage

All walk-in patients will receive triage immediately. Our specially trained nurses assess the severity of the illness or accident based on the main symptoms. Triage is performed according to the Emergency Severity Index (ESI).

Waiting times

At certain peak times there may be a wait due to the large number of patients requiring treatment. We always try to keep this time as short as possible. We inform patients regularly about the current situation.

Medical examination and initial treatment

The inter-professional team of doctors examines emergency patients rapidly and initiates the necessary further assessments and treatment stages, in strong collaboration with the nursing team.

Involvement of specialists and follow-up treatment

We can call upon specialists and carry out complex treatment at the UHZ at any time. If medically necessary, we can treat patients immediately in a specialized clinic at the UHZ.

Fast track

The aim of fast track is to provide rapid and competent treatment. In this separate treatment area, we treat all patients with minor emergencies requiring fewer resources (ESI 4 or 5).

Emergency Department team

Management team

Professor Dagmar Keller Lang, MD, Director

Patrik Honegger, Head of Nursing

Claudia Löffler-Hass, Department Manager

Senior Attending Physicians

Doris Eis, MD, Senior Consultant

Jörg Schramm, MD, Senior Consultant

Claudia Döschner, MD, Attending Physician

Judith Engeler Dusel, MD, Attending Physician

Aline Herzog, Attending Physician

Ariane Kaufmann, MD, Attending Physician

Samuel Morf, MD, Attending Physician

Viviane Jarmila Sahli, MD, Attending Physician

Patrick Scharpf, MD, Attending Physician

Ksenija Slankamenac, MD, Attending Physician

Med. pract. Irene Studer, Attending Physician

Med. pract. Timo Junker, Attending Physician

* in rotation: attending physicians and residents of the Department of Internal Medicine (German),
the Department of Surgery and Transplantation (German) and the Department of Trauma Surgery (German)

Care management team

Astrid Schütter, Departmental Head

Barbara Schwab, Departmental Head

Ingrid Heussner, Nurse Educator

Sarah Rauber, Nurse Educator

Mueller Fabienne, Nurse Educator

Graf Monika, Nurse Educator

Christine Frauenfelder, Group Head

Alexandra Häring, Group Head

Barbara Müller, Group Head

Gertraud Haberkorn, Nursing Specialist
Claudia Dell'Apollonia

Claudia Dell’Apollonia, Nursing Specialist

Administration office

Ivana Ivanovic, Head of Administration office

Administration Staff

Theodora Beeler
Selina Siri Brugger
Melanie Flückiger
Melissa Laskaj
Nathalie Hirsbrunner
Alexandra Greco

What should I bring with me for my treatment appointment?

The following documents:

Health insurance card, proof of supplementary insurance and vaccination certificate
Current list of medications being taken, including dosage
Personal ID (identity card, passport or residence permit)

Please note that a deposit may be required for treating emergency patients from abroad.

Can I go to the emergency room instead of to my GP?

No. As a rule, we treat every patient, but please keep in mind that the emergency department is not a substitute for a GP.

Does my insurance class influence my emergency treatment?

No. Treatment in the emergency department is not affected by your class of insurance. Every emergency patient receives the same treatment according to their triage category (ESI 1–5).

How do I reach the University Hospital Zurich and where can I park?

More information is available here: directions to UHZ.

Will I be given food and beverages in the emergency department?

In principle, patients staying in the emergency department for several hours receive refreshments from the catering department. Please ask the nursing staff if you may consume any food or beverages you bring with you, as many emergency patients are not allowed to eat or drink prior to being examined. Failure to do so may delay the requisite tests.

Helicopter landing information

Landing pads

Type: Rooftop landing pad
Altitude: 477 meters above sea level

Coordinates

47N 22’ 37’’, 08E 33’ 05’’
683 960 / 247 790

Coordinates on helipad

Number

Two landing pads with the designation 1 and 2, red cross on white field

Dimensions

Pad 1: 9 m x 9 m
Pad 2: 9 m x 9 m
Total surface area: 24 m x 12 m

Equipment

Windsock
Fire-extinguishing system
Obstruction lighting
Direct and indirect landing pad lighting
Green rotating beacons (on request) for the Limmat Valley, City of Zurich and Lake Zurich sectors

Load capacity

Max. take-off weight 3.6 t
Max. wheel load: 2.7 t

Landing

Routes: from south-east and north-west
Please note the restricted zone around the hospital campus.
University Hospital Zurich is on the outskirts of Zurich city center and Dübendorf.

Application

The UHZ alarm center must be notified of all imminent aircraft landings 15 minutes prior to ETA.
Tel +41 44 255 27 77

Alternative pad

There is a sports field belonging to the cantonal school on Gloriastrasse, 300 m south of the official hospital landing site. An ambulance can then transport the patient to the University Hospital Zurich. The USZ emergency operations service must be notified in good time via telephone when using the alternative pad.
Tel +41 44 255 27 77

Current situation

Information about aeronautical obstacles in the vicinity of the University Hospital Zurich can be requested directly from REGA operations control.
Tel (Switzerland): 1414
Tel (from abroad): +41 333 333 333
Radio band: "REGA city center" on 130.800 MHz
REGA website